US 7,809,353 B2Granted

Automatic security action invocation for mobile communications device

AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited

InventorsMichael S. Brown, Neil Adams, Steven Fyke, Herbert Little

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A mobile communications device, method and computer program product for providing security are described. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a processor; a communications subsystem; a storage element having application modules and data; and a security module operable to detect a locked state of the device and initiate a lockout data protection timer for a predetermined duration upon detection of the locked state. The security module is operable to, after the lockout data protection timer has been initiated, detect if a password is entered through a user input device within the predetermined duration and to terminate the lockout data protection timer if entry of the password is detected to perform a security action comprising erasing or encrypting at least some of the data if entry of the password is not detected.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A mobile communications device, comprising:

a processor;
a communications subsystem connected to the processor operable to exchange signals with a wireless network and with the processor;
a storage element connected to the processor and having a plurality of application modules and data stored thereon, the data comprising at least user application data associated with the application modules and service data including data for establishing communications with the wireless network;
and a security module operable to detect a locked state of the mobile communications device and initiate a lockout data protection timer for a predetermined duration upon detection of the locked state;
and wherein the security module is operable to, after the lockout data protection timer has been initiated, detect if a password shared by the user and the mobile communications device is entered through a user input device within the predetermined duration of the lockout data protection timer;
wherein the security module is operable to terminate the lockout data protection timer if entry of the password is detected within the predetermined duration;
and wherein the security module is operable to perform a security action comprising erasing or encrypting at least some of the data on the storage element if entry of the password is not detected within the predetermined duration.

4 more elements

A method for providing security on a mobile communications device, the mobile communications device being configured to communicate with a wireless communications network and including a storage element having data stored thereon, the method comprising the acts of:

monitoring to detect for the locked state of the mobile communications device and initiating a lockout data protection timer for a predetermined duration upon detection of the locked state;
and monitoring, after the lockout data protection timer has been initiated, to detect if a password shared by the user and the mobile communications device is entered through the user input device within the predetermined duration of the lockout data protection timer;
if entry of the password is detected within the predetermined duration, terminating the lockout data protection timer;
and if entry of the password is not detected within the predetermined duration, performing a security action comprising erasing or encrypting at least some of the data on the storage element.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/750,594Filed 18 May 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 May 2006
Published: US 2007/0298767 A127 Dec 2007
Granted: 5 Oct 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

H04W 12/02
Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity: protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable…
G06F 21/305
Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals: by remotely controlling device operation
G06F 21/6218
Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules: to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file…
G06F 21/88
Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer:…